Ethiopia: Nationwide protest over taxes on small businesses continues

A tax levied by authorities on “estimated sales” on small businesses and vendors has faced with protests, some violent in the Oromo region of Ethiopia.

Reports reaching ESAT say government vehicles including police cars were set ablaze in Ambo, while shops were closed for the second day.

In the rest of the country, tensions remain high in a number of localities in the Oromo region with businesses shut down for the second day. In Adama a.k.a. Nazareth and Tulu Bolo, people took to the streets to expressed anger and blocked roads.

Small businesses and vendors were asked to pay taxes on “estimated sales,” which traders say were arbitrary and does not represent the actual sales.